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March 15, 2021

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A little robot advent

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After a couple of small hiccups (as you may have s

After a couple of small hiccups (as you may have seen in my stories) I’m more than a little chuffed with how this years Easter cookies have turned out!

I baked mini m&m’s into half of them and have had trouble keeping them away from my daughter (who has decided they’re the most delicious things she’s had this year).

I’m off to hide them with our Easter egg stash until next weekend 🥕🐰🧡

I used the Bunny farmer and heart cookie cutter from @killerzebras, purchased from @miss_biscuit_

I can’t believe I’m ready for Easter early thi

I can’t believe I’m ready for Easter early this year!

My egg delivery has arrived (this year from the amazing @kokoblackchocolate), my cookies are decorated, and I’ve just a little last minute baking and flower shopping to do.

I’m particularly chuffed with how my bunny farmer cookies turned out. With thanks to cookie cutters and design by @killerzebras, purchased from @miss_biscuit_

I was scrolling through my photos and found these

I was scrolling through my photos and found these cookies I’d not shared on social media.

I made them in 2020 for a little friend who celebrated his birthday during one of the many Melbourne lockdowns.

I’m baking and decorating cookies for Easter next week 💕🐣

I’ve given up on this years Stephen West MKAL. I

I’ve given up on this years Stephen West MKAL. It just isn’t working for me.

This week a gorgeous friend from Switzerland visited me. She’s an truly amazing knitter! I hope to one day have even half her skill.

However, even with my friends copious creativity and knowledge, we couldn’t brainstorm a way to adjust the MKAL pattern so that I loved it. I’m too slow a knitter to invest dozens of hours into something I don’t like. So I’m going to frog it and use the yarn for something else.

Instead I’ve unearthed an unfinished project. I purchased this yarn when I was last in Paris (pre-Covid times). I hadn’t learned continental knitting at this point and so it was very slow going!

The exceedingly hot summer we experienced when we arrived in Australia had me stashing it away. Where it has stayed hidden until now.

I’ve frogged the portion I’d completed (due to changes in my tension due to a new style of knitting) and I am restarting it. My current plan is to have it finished for Autumn. It should look great with a long skirt and boots!

The yarn is a stunning mohair blend called Coquette from @la_droguerie in Paris. I’m making their “Place Rihour” pattern (scroll to see the pattern image).

I adore La Drogurie and try to visit whenever we make it to Europe. If only to stand in front of their stunningly colorful wall of yarn. It’s one of my very happy places.

I’ve been told you should start the new year as

I’ve been told you should start the new year as you mean to continue.
I’m hoping for a lot more days like this…

Happy New Year!
I hope 2023 is a good one for you and yours.

Sometimes my inner perfectionist needs a reminder

Sometimes my inner perfectionist needs a reminder that things that aren’t perfect are as valuable (or more so) than the “grammable” content.

After I closed my online business and no longer felt a need to market it, I stepped away from social media to a large extent.

Those who have been following me for many years may have noticed I stopped posting as much over the past 4 years. I now don’t feel a need to share every concert, outing, holiday, or perfect photo on my public or private social media pages. I no longer determine if something is worthy of doing based on its ‘grammability’.

Because comparison is the thief of happiness (this may be a messed up @brenebrown quote?) and I want to model a healthy relationship with technology for my daughter.

Which brings me to this photo. I had an amazing day yesterday. My daughter invited a friend over and we made gingerbread houses.

I’d made the dough, but left everything else to them. They designed their houses, came with me to the lolly shop (@treattime1 in Inverloch has a great selection) to select their supplies, and decorated to their hearts content.

I made the template, baked it, mixed the icing, and helped with final assembly. Otherwise, I held myself back and only assisted only when requested.

The girls worked off the sugar rush(es) with frequent gymnastics breaks on the lounge. Because you need to sample the construction materials 😉.

We laughed, cheered each-other on, found joy in the mistakes (did you know @rowntreesuk Randoms turn into gooey jelly pillows when put in the dehydrator? 🤣). And we all had a ball.

It was glorious and perfectly imperfect.

I took this photo quickly, before it started its deconstruction (it’s delicious!). The photo is unstaged, on the only clear space of benchtop left.

After years away from regular creative endeavors (as we didn’t have room for a studio). We have (mostly) finished renovating and I now have one again! This means I’ll have more creations to share with you.

I’m posting this gorgeous, happy creation here to remind myself to share the perfectly imperfect.

Today, the last sets of these cookies are winging

Today, the last sets of these cookies are winging their way to my friend’s daughter in Europe. 🤞 they make it intact!

I’ve a few extra sets of this design baked in gingerbread that I have yet to find time to decorate. I’m hoping I can make some next week as I really want to do the mouse king!

The splendid design of these cookies is by @thecookiegallery, the cutter STL files were purchased from @night.owl.icing and they were printed for me by the amazing Ema at @cookiemafia_au

A little late- but our ‘cat friendly’ tree is

A little late- but our ‘cat friendly’ tree is up!

Whilst it’s a little less sentimental, it’s not worth risking our most delicate of ornaments when the feline frenzies kick in at 4am!

#christmascats #catsofinstagram

A while ago I created these little robot advent ca

A while ago I created these little robot advent calendar boxes. And I’ve recently reloaded the design on my updated site.

Each robot’s head is a small box for you to hide your advent treats in! And he has a built in loop to hang them up with (if you wish).

I think I’m going to have to remake a little robot army advent for my daughter this year. I know she’ll love them!

The digital files for this cute project are available for purchase on my website. The SVG and PDF files are included so you can make them by hand or use your preferred cutter (Cricut, Silhouette, etc).
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#cricut #cricutmaker #cricutmade #cricutcrafts #cricutprojects #cricutcraft #cricutcreations #silhouette #silhouttecameo #silhouettecameo #silhouette_creative #silhouette_arts #papercrafts #papercrafting #papercrafter #papercraftingaddict #papercreations #advent #adventcalendar #diy #packagingdesign #packaging #packagingideas

It’s that most wonderful time of the year. I’v

It’s that most wonderful time of the year. I’ve just popped into @morrisandsons to stock up on @manosdeluruguay yarn for this years Westknits MKAL

They’re a deliciously squishy wool and silk blend in glorious happy colours (somewhat similar to those I picked last year 😉). The pink is my pop colour.

#mkal2022 #westknitsmkal2022 #westknits #twistsandturnsmkal

At Chez Nicola we're well into our annual bake-a-t

At Chez Nicola we're well into our annual bake-a-thon for my daughter's birthday.

She turns 9 on Friday 🤯 and did a rapid switch on her birthday theme just a few weeks ago. I was slightly regretting introducing her to the Harry Potter books just before her birthday!

So I had to scramble to redesign everything from invites to cookies (it was impossible to re-use our original 'lady palaeontologist' theme 😂).

Here's what I came up with. HP cookies (using images by the amazing @naomi_lord for the character design) and 'sorting hat' macaron snitch topped cupcakes*. Each cupcake contained sprinkles in one of the house colours hidden inside.

I'm now about to bake a Harry Potter birthday cake that must be "cute". Wish me luck!!

*They're a gluten free sponge with swiss meringue buttercream, topped with a caramel macaron, and edible glitter dusted wafer paper wings.

#glutenfree #homebaking #decoratedcookies #harrypotter #birthdaygirl #glutenfreebaking

I made these yesterday for my daughters school. A

I made these yesterday for my daughters school. A group of students in her year are having a bake sale to raise funds for the children of Ukraine through Unicef.

It's been quite a while between cookie decorating sessions!

We've been busy moving house, renovating, and catching almost every cold going around this winter.

I've got the annual 'Munchkin Birthday Cookie Session' coming up (and she's picked some reasonably difficult designs), so I decided to make these quick ones to get my hand in again.

I hope the kids like them!

#unicef #ukraine #bakesale #decoratedcookies #homebaking #glutenfree #glutenfreebaking

Just before Easter I spent some time distracting m

Just before Easter I spent some time distracting myself from the wait for settlement on our new house by decorating mini cookies and designing packaging to make gifts to give to friends.

Then chaos ensued; we became insanely busy renovating the new place, and visiting family (we have been unable to see for two and a half years due to lockdowns and border closures).

As a result, we gave out two sets, ate one, and are still nibbling our way through the remainder.

Not that my family are complaining! They’re just short of a mouthful each and make a perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea or coffee.

Now, most of the renovations are in the hands of the professionals, I’m just packing, cleaning, and hanging new blinds and curtains.

So I’m hoping to finesse the packaging design, and share the template on the blog in the coming weeks.

The cookie design and cutters are from a kit by @miss_biscuit_

I find flooding cookies almost mediative. It’s a

I find flooding cookies almost mediative. It’s a slow process that requires concentration (this clip has been sped up 10X)

It’s been a very long time between blog posts. B

It’s been a very long time between blog posts. But I’m happy to say, I’m returning to creating content for Next to Nicx.

The blog has had a bit of a tidy up and, just in time for Easter, I’ve post this template for my Bunny Milk Carton.

It’s free, so you just need to download it, print it out, assemble it, and fill with treats.

It’s then your choice whether you give it away, or keep or for yourself 😉

Gingerbread house making and decorating is one of

Gingerbread house making and decorating is one of our family traditions (it started when we lived in Europe).

Even the years we have celebrated the holidays away from home, we have ensured to make one prior to our departure.

They’ve gotten more creative and detailed as my daughter has grown and become interested in baking. Admittedly, they’re also starting to have a lot more candy on them than when we started! 🤣

This year, Munchkin (who is now 8 years old) and I had involved discussions on icing, house shape, and the overall aesthetic. And then the whole family trooped into the candy store to choose the appropriate sugared confections.

It’s times like these I have to let go of my inner perfectionist and let things flow in whichever direction the family pleases. It’s fun to see what we end up with!

Now to wait until Christmas Eve, when we’ll eat it whilst watching Christmas films 😍🎄

I finally finished my @westknits knit-a-long shawl

I finally finished my @westknits knit-a-long shawl!

We now live in Australia and are heading into Summer, so these bold and bright colors are perfect for our cool evenings after days spent oceanside.

Given this weeks announcement that we’re in for another La Niña year… it may get a lot more use than usual!

I’ll post some close ups later in the week.

#shawlographymkal2021 #mkal2021 #westknitsmkal2019 #summervibes #australia #knitting

I made this set of cookies for a little friend who

I made this set of cookies for a little friend who turned four. It was my first attempt at writing with royal icing. They were very much appreciated!

I’m in the process of putting together designs for Christmas- I’m think bold Australia flora and native birds. They certainly won’t be pastel!

When your daughter wants Halloween cookies- but di

When your daughter wants Halloween cookies- but dislikes scary things

I’ve been trying something completely new to me

I’ve been trying something completely new to me this week.

I’m an average knitter… and I’ve always been a bit scared by more detailed and intricate patterns. Last year I taught myself continental stitch knitting and found I’ve been enjoying it more.

And this year I discovered @westknits and his Shawlography knit-a-long (#mkal2021) and decided to take a leap into the unknown.

It’s a shawl pattern that is released in sections each week. It requires you to buy yarn not knowing exactly what you are knitting.

Buoyed by the knowledge Stephen provides detailed video tutorials and that thousands of others would be knitting it too (so I had people online to ask questions) I joined in.

And I’m so glad I did! I’ve discovered German short rows, I cord bind offs, and that a really love using multiple colors, particularly when they’re super happy ones like these!

I’ve always thought I should go conservative with my colors because if I was putting in this amount of work, I wanted to be sure I could wear it with everything! But, again, inspired by Stephen’s amazing color combinations in his kits, I decided to go bolder than I ever have before and selected amazing @hedgehogfibres yarns. I’m now regretting going safe for so long.

This is the first portion (clue No.1). I’ve given it a slight steam and finger press to open up the wedges.

I 💜it!

#shawlographymkal #shawlographymkal2021 #shawlography

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